NotwithstandingwhatmaybecalledinthesepagesthePruneyandPrismaticnatureofthefamilybanquet，MrDorritseveraltimesfellasleepwhileitwasinprogress。Hisfitsofdozingwereassuddenastheyhadbeenovernight，andwereasshortandprofound。
Whenthefirstoftheseslumberingsseizedhim，MrsGenerallookedalmostamazed：but，oneachrecurrenceofthesymptoms，shetoldherpolitebeads，Papa，Potatoes，Poultry，Prunes，andPrism；and，bydintofgoingthroughthatinfallibleperformanceveryslowly，appearedtofinishherrosaryataboutthesametimeasMrDorritstartedfromhissleep。
HewasagainpainfullyawareofasomnolenttendencyinFrederickwhichhadnoexistenceoutofhisownimagination，andafterdinner，whenFrederickhadwithdrawn，privatelyapologisedtoMrsGeneralforthepoorman。’Themostestimableandaffectionateofbrothers，’hesaid，’but——ha，hum——brokenupaltogether。
Unhappily，decliningfast。’
’MrFrederick，sir，’quothMrsGeneral，’ishabituallyabsentanddrooping，butletushopeitisnotsobadasthat。’
MrDorrit，however，wasdeterminednottolethimoff。’Fastdeclining，madam。Awreck。Aruin。Moulderingawaybeforeoureyes。Hum。GoodFrederick!’
’YouleftMrsSparklerquitewellandhappy，Itrust？’saidMrsGeneral，afterheavingacoolsighforFrederick。
’Surrounded，’repliedMrDorrit，’by——ha——allthatcancharmthetaste，and——hum——elevatethemind。Happy，mydearmadam，ina——hum——husband。’
MrsGeneralwasalittlefluttered；seemingdelicatelytoputthewordawaywithhergloves，asiftherewerenoknowingwhatitmightleadto。
’Fanny，’MrDorritcontinued。’Fanny，MrsGeneral，hashighqualities。Ha。Ambition——hum——purpose，consciousnessof——ha——
position，determinationtosupportthatposition——ha，hum——grace，beauty，andnativenobility。’
’Nodoubt，’saidMrsGeneralwithalittleextrastiffness。
’Combinedwiththesequalities，madam，’saidMrDorrit，’Fannyhas——ha——manifestedoneblemishwhichhasmademe——hum——mademeuneasy，and——ha——Imustadd，angry；butwhichItrustmaynowbeconsideredatanend，evenastoherself，andwhichisundoubtedlyatanendasto——ha——others。’
’Towhat，MrDorrit，’returnedMrsGeneral，withherglovesagainsomewhatexcited，’canyouallude？Iamatalossto——’
’Donotsaythat，mydearmadam，’interruptedMrDorrit。
MrsGeneral’svoice，asitdiedaway，pronouncedthewords，’atalosstoimagine。’
AfterwhichMrDorritwasseizedwithadozeforaboutaminute，outofwhichhesprangwithspasmodicnimbleness。
’Irefer，MrsGeneral，tothat——ha——strongspiritofopposition，or——hum——Imightsay——ha——jealousyinFanny，whichhasoccasionallyrisenagainstthe——ha——senseIentertainof——hum——theclaimsof——
ha——theladywithwhomIhavenowthehonourofcommuning。’
’MrDorrit，’returnedMrsGeneral，’iseverbuttooobliging，everbuttooappreciative。IftherehavebeenmomentswhenIhaveimaginedthatMissDorrithasindeedresentedthefavourableopinionMrDorrithasformedofmyservices，Ihavefound，inthatonlytoohighopinion，myconsolationandrecompense。’
’Opinionofyourservices，madam？’saidMrDorrit。
’Of，’MrsGeneralrepeated，inanelegantlyimpressivemanner，’myservices。’
’Ofyourservicesalone，dearmadam？’saidMrDorrit。
’Ipresume，’retortedMrsGeneral，inherformerimpressivemanner，’ofmyservicesalone。For，towhatelse，’saidMrsGeneral，withaslightlyinterrogativeactionofhergloves，’couldIimpute——’
’To——ha——yourself，MrsGeneral。Ha，hum。Toyourselfandyourmerits，’wasMrDorrit’srejoinder。
’MrDorritwillpardonme，’saidMrsGeneral，’ifIremarkthatthisisnotatimeorplaceforthepursuitofthepresentconversation。MrDorritwillexcusemeifIremindhimthatMissDorritisintheadjoiningroom，andisvisibletomyselfwhileI
utterhername。MrDorritwillforgivemeifIobservethatIamagitated，andthatIfindtherearemomentswhenweaknessesI
supposedmyselftohavesubdued，returnwithredoubledpower。MrDorritwillallowmetowithdraw。’
’Hum。Perhapswemayresumethis——ha——interestingconversation，’
saidMrDorrit，’atanothertime；unlessitshouldbe，whatIhopeitisnot——hum——inanywaydisagreeableto——ah——MrsGeneral。’
’MrDorrit，’saidMrsGeneral，castingdownhereyesassherosewithabend，’musteverclaimmyhomageandobedience。’
MrsGeneralthentookherselfoffinastatelyway，andnotwiththatamountoftrepidationuponherwhichmighthavebeenexpectedinalessremarkablewoman。MrDorrit，whohadconductedhispartofthedialoguewithacertainmajesticandadmiringcondescension——muchassomepeoplemaybeseentoconductthemselvesinChurch，andtoperformtheirpartintheservice——appeared，onthewhole，verywellsatisfiedwithhimselfandwithMrsGeneraltoo。Onthereturnofthatladytotea，shehadtouchedherselfupwithalittlepowderandpomatum，andwasnotwithoutmoralenchantmentlikewise：thelattershowingitselfinmuchsweetpatronageofmannertowardsMissDorrit，andinanairofastenderinterestinMrDorritaswasconsistentwithrigidpropriety。Atthecloseoftheevening，whensherosetoretire，MrDorrittookherbythehandasifheweregoingtoleadheroutintothePiazzaofthepeopletowalkaminuetbymoonlight，andwithgreatsolemnityconductedhertotheroomdoor，whereheraisedherknucklestohislips。Havingpartedfromherwithwhatmaybeconjecturedtohavebeenaratherbonykissofacosmeticflavour，hegavehisdaughterhisblessing，graciously。Andhavingthushintedthattherewassomethingremarkableinthewind，heagainwenttobed。
Heremainedintheseclusionofhisownchambernextmorning；but，earlyintheafternoon，sentdownhisbestcomplimentstoMrsGeneral，byMrTinkler，andbeggedshewouldaccompanyMissDorritonanairingwithouthim。HisdaughterwasdressedforMrsMerdle’sdinnerbeforeheappeared。Hethenpresentedhimselfinarefulgentconditionastohisattire，butlookingindefinablyshrunkenandold。However，ashewasplainlydeterminedtobeangrywithherifshesomuchasaskedhimhowhewas，sheonlyventuredtokisshischeek，beforeaccompanyinghimtoMrsMerdle’swithananxiousheart。
Thedistancethattheyhadtogowasveryshort，buthewasathisbuildingworkagainbeforethecarriagehadhalftraversedit。MrsMerdlereceivedhimwithgreatdistinction；thebosomwasinadmirablepreservation，andonthebesttermswithitself；thedinnerwasverychoice；andthecompanywasveryselect。
ItwasprincipallyEnglish；savingthatitcomprisedtheusualFrenchCountandtheusualItalianMarchese——decorativesocialmilestones，alwaystobefoundincertainplaces，andvaryingverylittleinappearance。Thetablewaslong，andthedinnerwaslong；
andLittleDorrit，overshadowedbyalargepairofblackwhiskersandalargewhitecravat，lostsightofherfatheraltogether，untilaservantputascrapofpaperinherhand，withawhisperedrequestfromMrsMerdlethatshewouldreaditdirectly。MrsMerdlehadwrittenonitinpencil，’PraycomeandspeaktoMrDorrit，Idoubtifheiswell。’
Shewashurryingtohim，unobserved，whenhegotupoutofhischair，andleaningoverthetablecalledtoher，supposinghertobestillinherplace：
’Amy，Amy，mychild!’
Theactionwassounusual，tosaynothingofhisstrangeeagerappearanceandstrangeeagervoice，thatitinstantaneouslycausedaprofoundsilence。
’Amy，mydear，’herepeated。’WillyougoandseeifBobisonthelock？’
Shewasathisside，andtouchinghim，buthestillperverselysupposedhertobeinherseat，andcalledout，stillleaningoverthetable，’Amy，Amy。Idon’tfeelquitemyself。Ha。Idon’tknowwhat’sthematterwithme。IparticularlywishtoseeBob。
Ha。Ofalltheturnkeys，he’sasmuchmyfriendasyours。SeeifBobisinthelodge，andbeghimtocometome。’
Alltheguestswerenowinconsternation，andeverybodyrose。
’Dearfather，Iamnotthere；Iamhere，byyou。’
’Oh!Youarehere，Amy!Good。Hum。Good。Ha。CallBob。Ifhehasbeenrelieved，andisnotonthelock，tellMrsBanghamtogoandfetchhim。’
Shewasgentlytryingtogethimaway；butheresisted，andwouldnotgo。
’Itellyou，child，’hesaidpetulantly，’Ican’tbegotupthenarrowstairswithoutBob。Ha。SendforBob。Hum。SendforBob——bestofalltheturnkeys——sendforBob!’
Helookedconfusedlyabouthim，and，becomingconsciousofthenumberoffacesbywhichhewassurrounded，addressedthem：
’Ladiesandgentlemen，theduty——ha——devolvesuponmeof——hum——
welcomingyoutotheMarshalsea!WelcometotheMarshalsea!Thespaceis——ha——limited——limited——theparademightbewider；butyouwillfinditapparentlygrowlargerafteratime——atime，ladiesandgentlemen——andtheairis，allthingsconsidered，verygood。
Itblowsoverthe——ha——Surreyhills。BlowsovertheSurreyhills。
ThisistheSnuggery。Hum。Supportedbyasmallsubscriptionofthe——ha——Collegiatebody。Inreturnforwhich——hotwater——generalkitchen——andlittledomesticadvantages。Thosewhoarehabituatedtothe——ha——Marshalsea，arepleasedtocallmeitsfather。Iamaccustomedtobecomplimentedbystrangersasthe——ha——FatheroftheMarshalsea。Certainly，ifyearsofresidencemayestablishaclaimtoso——ha——honourableatitle，Imayacceptthe——hum——
conferreddistinction。Mychild，ladiesandgentlemen。Mydaughter。Bornhere!’
Shewasnotashamedofit，orashamedofhim。Shewaspaleandfrightened；butshehadnoothercarethantosoothehimandgethimaway，forhisowndearsake。Shewasbetweenhimandthewonderingfaces，turnedrounduponhisbreastwithherownfaceraisedtohis。Heheldherclaspedinhisleftarm，andbetweenwhilesherlowvoicewasheardtenderlyimploringhimtogoawaywithher。
’Bornhere，’herepeated，sheddingtears。’Bredhere。Ladiesandgentlemen，mydaughter。Childofanunfortunatefather，but——ha——
alwaysagentleman。Poor，nodoubt，but——hum——proud。Alwaysproud。Ithasbecomea——hum——notinfrequentcustomformy——ha——
personaladmirers——personaladmirerssolely——tobepleasedtoexpresstheirdesiretoacknowledgemysemi-officialpositionhere，byoffering——ha——littletributes，whichusuallytaketheformof——
ha——voluntaryrecognitionsofmyhumbleendeavoursto——hum——toupholdaTonehere——aTone——IbegittobeunderstoodthatIdonotconsidermyselfcompromised。Ha。Notcompromised。Ha。Notabeggar。No；Irepudiatethetitle!Atthesametimefarbeitfrommeto——hum——toputuponthefinefeelingsbywhichmypartialfriendsareactuated，theslightofscruplingtoadmitthatthoseofferingsare——hum——highlyacceptable。Onthecontrary，theyaremostacceptable。Inmychild’sname，ifnotinmyown，Imaketheadmissioninthefullestmanner，atthesametimereserving——ha